THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF FUTURE PUNISHMENT: An Argument, BY H. H. DOBNEY, (Baptist Minister, England.) FOURTH AMERICAN, FROM THE SECOND LONDON EDITION. With an Appendix, CONTAINING "THE STATE OF THE DEAD," BY JOHN MILTON, AUTHOR OF "PARADISE LOST." EXTRACTED FROM HIS "TREATISE ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.”’ PEACE DALE, R. I.: PUBLISHED BY H. L. HASTINGS. 1856. 01182.27.35HWING COLLEGE LIBRARY 1857 Oct 26 The liest d Rev Charles F. Huom DEDICATION. THE Publishers of this work would respectfully dedicate it to Christians of all denominations--helieving it will stand the ordeal of the most rigid criticism,—and the surer test of the day of judgment. If the doctrines herein stated are true, it follows that the inherent immortality of man is a stupendous fiction, unsupported by the analogy of nature, or a particle of evidence from the scriptures of truth. If these things be so-It is time for the world to know it-and let him who readeth understand—that it is written,―That "whosoever shall add unto the words of the revelation of the blessed Lord shall be added unto him the plagues that are written therein-and whosoever shall take away-God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and the Holy City." Amen. PREFACE. In offering to the public another volume on the subject of Future Punishment it will be necessary to prefix only a few explanatory observations, since much of what might have been presented in a preface has been introduced into the body of the work, as occasion was judged to require. In the summer of 1844, the "Notes of Lectures were published at the request of the writer's congregation, to whom they had been delivered in the early part of that year. Of the reception which that little work experienced it needs not to speak. I had counted the cost, and have never regretted the effort. If it has elicited in some quarters that earthly passion which blinds the eye, and beclouds the judgment, and dethrones love, and prompts the unhappy victim to snatch up unhallowed weapons, it has also elicited from others the display of christian graces, which have greatly endeared to me some most honored members of the household of faith, to whom I could wish propriety would allow me publicly to pay that tribute of respect and affection which it would gratify me to offer. I may however present my praises to the God of all grace, that the work was owned and blessed by him to the conversion of some sinners, and to the edification of not a few amiable christians, whose fervent acknowledgments have more than counterbalanced the blame of others. Some of my reviewers complained of the comparative "meagreness" of the former "Notes," and expressed the |